Tool for operating vehicle-wheel rims.



R. W. FUNK.

TOOI. FOR OPERATING VEHICLE WHEEL IHMS.

APPLICATION mm OCT. s. 15H!- mznawso ocr. 25. 1911.

Patented Oct. 28,1919.

' tire.

is a sida eievation '0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD W. FUNK,'OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-HOR: BY xnsnn ls SIGN- MEN'IS, T0 UNIVERSAL RIM COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, LGORPORA'I'ION OI ILLINOIS.

TOOL non. ornnarmo VEHICLE-WHEEL arms.

Patented Oct. 28,1919.

Application filed October 6, 1911, Serial no. 653200. llten'ciivellv October 25, 1917. Serial No. 198,544.

of New Jersey, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Tools for Operatin Vehicle-Wheel Rims, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved tool for operating a transversely split demountable tire-carrying rim for vehicle wheels. In certain vehicle wheel rim structurcs a demountable tire-carrying rim is used which is transversely split in order to permit the same to be collapsed, when demounted from the wheel, to more readily permit the application and removal of th With such structures it has sometimes been diflicult to effect the collapsing or con traction of the rim, and also to maintain the same contracted while the tire is removed. By my invention a tool is provided by which the rim may be easily manipulated, the tool cooperating with the rim in such manner that the rim is automatically held in contracted position.

In the aceompslmying drawings which form a part of t 's ification, Figure 1 a. tire-carrying rim with the, tool applied thereto, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, A portion of one of the rim flanges is illustrated as broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inside of a portion of the rim with the tool applied thereto, the dotted. lines indicatin the positions of the members of the too when being applied'to the rim; Fig. 3 is a. Side elevation of a portion of a rim and tool showing the ends of the rim in overlapped position; Fig. l is a perspeciire view showing the ends of the rim overlapped with the tool applied thereto, ne art of the rim and the tire being shown in transverse section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the rim, which is provided with the tire-retaining flanges 3. The rim is transversely split at the point 3, preferably on a plane oblique to a radius, as shown. Means are provided in'or upon the rim at each side of the split therein for engagement by the tool. As shown. these means consist of holes or sockets 4 in the end 5 of the rim and holes or sockets 6 in the end 7 of the rim, the axes of these holes being parallel to elements of the tire seating surface of the rim, and the holes preferably passing entirely through the .retaining flanges 2. The tool 8 comprises the two arms of members 9, the ends 10 of which are brought together to form a handle and detachably united in any suitable manner, as by means of the boltll and wing nut 12. The other ends 13 of the arms 9 are bent slightly from the line of the tool and carry two sets of pins 14 and 15 for engagement, respectively-with the holes or sockets 4 and the holes or sockets 6.

The tool and rim are operated as follows: The win nut 12 being loosened, the two arms 9 o the tool are separated sufliciently, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to permit the tool to be applied to the rim. The pins full lines in Fig, 3, This draws the end 7 v of the rim inwardly and causes the two ends of the rim to lap, as shown. in Fig. 3. The rim is then collapsed sufficiently to permit the tire to'be readily placed thereon, or, if the rim already carries a tire, to permit the same to be removed. The parts are preferably so proportioned that when the tool is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 it will automatically lock itself and retain the rim in collapsed'position. This is accomplished by-moving the pins 15 beyond the dead-center, so to speak; for example, referring to the diagram in Fig; 3, if the arrow n represents the force; due to the elasticity of the rim, tending to move the end of the rim, 7, circumferentially with reference to the end 5 of the rim, and the arrow Y) represents the force tending to, move the rim return the tool to its original position, which will rr-aline the ends of the rinn as shown in Fig. I. The eiltflllgof the rim in a plane oblique to a radiw. as shown, makes possi ble the telesroping of the ends of the rim by means of a tool of the form shown.

1 rhine- 1. A tool for operating a transversely split tin-warning: rim for vehicle wheels mmprising two arms separated throughout the main portion of their length, but having end portions ofl'sel toward earh other, a hull for rlamping said otl'set portions together. the opposite end portions of said arms living hent from the line of said tool, and a pair of pins projecting from the inside of each of said bent portions.

'3. A tool foroperating a transversely split tire carrying rim for vehicle wheels,

comprising, in emnbination, two arms separated, throughout the main portion of their length and having opposed end portions that are bent from thelineof their main portions,

-a pair of pins projecting from the inner side of each said bent-end portion, said arms being relatively adjustable for attachment to and detachment from the ends of a trans- \'ersel split rim, a clamping bolt for clamping said arms together for Operation upon the rim. and the bends in said arm portions being such as to allow the main portions thereof to clear the inner side of the rim when in operating position as required to admit the hand of the operator.

RICHARD W. FUNK. \V itnesses LOUIS A. Tuner-0w, GERALD E. TERWILLIGER. 

